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Welsh opera star KATHERINE JENKINS was forced to drop out of the National= TV Awards in London on Wednesday night (20Jan10) - she’s suffering from = a chest infection.
The singer was due to attend the ceremony but had to miss the event so = she can recover in time to perform on British TV show Popstar to Operasta= r on Friday (22Jan10).
Taking to her Twitter.com page prior to the awards, she wrote: "Chest i= nfection. I’m supposed to be going to the NTA’s 2nite (tonight). If I do = go, I think I will stay for the awards and miss the parties." Later she added, "Decided 2 (to) miss NTA’s 2nite (tonight) as I’m sing= ing on Popstar 2 Operastar this Fri & don’t won’t 2 (to) be sick. Shame b= ut gd (good) luck to all those nominated." Winners at the event included Simon Cowell’s British singing contest Th= e X Factor, which landed the Best Talent Show title, and veteran actor St= ephen Fry, who picked up two awards - the Star Travel Documentary prize f= or his Stephen Fry in America programme, and a Special Recognition honour= ..

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DANNII MINOGUE’s "dream has come true" - the Australian singer is launchi= ng her own clothing range with a top British designer.
The star, who judges on Simon Cowell’s U.K. singing contest The X Facto= r, has teamed up with Tabitha Somerset Webb, founder of luxury accessorie= s label Tabitha, to create her own fashion collection.
Minogue’s range will launch on Thursday (21Jan10) in London.
In a post on her Twitter.com page, she writes, "I’m so excited. Having = the best day. Today I’m selling my new collection of dresses - pinching m= yself that the dream has come true!"

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BEATLES fans have been banned from taking photos of pupils at a Liverpool= school attended by Fab Four members JOHN LENNON and GEORGE HARRISON - be= cause of fears for their safety.
Dovedale Junior School is a Mecca for fans of the pop legends who flock= to Liverpool from around the globe to visit landmarks in the lives of Be= atles Lennon, Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
But hundreds of sightseers catching snapshots of kids playing on school= grounds have provoked concern from parents and prompted school bosses to= set up strict new rules about what fans can and cannot capture on film.
Devotees will still be allowed to photograph the building, but huge new= signs warn the playground is out of bounds.
Head teacher Nik Smith explains, "At times it can be quite difficult to= explain that taking photographs while the children are out on the playgr= ound is not allowed as many of the tourists are foreign and the language = barrier can be a difficulty.
"We thought that a sign is universal and is self explanatory. We do try= to encourage tourists to come to the front of the buildings to take a ph= otograph where there are no children."

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WEEZER frontman RIVERS CUOMO was convinced he was going to die when he wa= s trapped in his tour bus after a freak crash in December (09).
The Buddy Holly hitmakers were forced to cancel their North American to= ur after Cuomo was admitted to hospital with a punctured lung and five br= oken ribs which he sustained when the vehicle swerved into a ditch.
And the singer admits he feared for his life while waiting to be rescue= d from the wreckage.
He tells MTV.com, "I remember waking up as the bus was swerving, and I = didn’t think anything of it, because the bus has swerved so many times an= d nothing bad has ever happened. And the next thing I remember, the accid= ent was over, and I couldn’t move. I could barely speak. I was trapped th= ere, and I couldn’t move at all, and it was really scary.
"I was definitely thinking, ‘Well, maybe this is it for me. Maybe I’m o= n the way out here.’ But I don’t remember any impact." The star is now set to undergo alternative therapy in a bid to further = his recovery.
He adds, "I’m about to go under this 45-day meditation retreat, and one= of the things that happens to me in these courses is that my memory gets= razor-sharp, so I’m expecting that a lot of the accident is going to com= e back to me."

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Screenwriter FRANKLIN THOMPSON has died at the age of 75.
Thompson, who also worked as an agent for writers, passed away on 2 Dec= ember (09) at his home in California, according to industry trade paper D= aily Variety.
He began his career in Hollywood as a junior agent at the H.N. Swanson = Agency, before racking up writing credits on 1982’s Forced Vengeance and = several TV series including Standing Tall and Jake and the Fatman.
Thompson also served as an executive consultant on Perry Mason.
A memorial will be held in his honour on 31 January (10) in Pasadena, C= alifornia.

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Oscar-winning director DANNY BOYLE is heading back to the theatre for the= first time in over 20 years - he’s signed up to direct a West End produc= tion of FRANKENSTEIN.
The Slumdog Millionaire moviemaker began his career directing plays, in= cluding a stint at England’s famous Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in th= e 1980s.
He moved into film with British crime thriller Shallow Grave in 1995 an= d his rising fame in Hollywood culminated with the coveted Best Director = prize at last year’s (09) Academy Awards.
And now Boyle has revealed he is taking a break from movies - taking ch= arge of a new production of Frankenstein, based on the novel by Mary She= lley, at London’s National Theatre.
The play, by Nick Dear, will begin its run in late 2010.

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SIR IAN MCKELLEN has slammed the sports world for failing to accept openl= y gay athletes, insisting many stars are too "afraid" to ‘come out.’ The openly homosexual Lord of the Rings actor is convinced many sports = stars keep their sexuality secret, over fears they will face a negative b= acklash from fans if they are honest about their lifestyle.
And McKellen insists the sports industry needs to make some big changes= to help homosexual athletes.
He tells British radio station BBC Radio 5 Live, "When it comes to the = business of simply being honest about who they are, some of them (sports = stars) become little shrinking violets because they’re afraid, probably, = of being booed from the terraces, and that must be a horrible experience = and shame on people who do it. But it ain’t (sic) going to stop someone b= eing a fantastic footballer because they’re honest about their private li= ves, is it? I don’t believe so and the world is changing and sport, I’m a= fraid, is very slow to catch up."

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JAMES CAMERON has hit back at criticism of the way he portrays the milita= ry in his blockbuster AVATAR, insisting they are thinking about the plot = "too simplistically".
The hi-tech adventure movie, already the second highest-grossing pictur= e of all time, was panned by right-wing critics for being anti-military.
Cameron claims he’s offended critics have misinterpreted his message .
He explains, "The anti-military thing is kind of tough for me because m= y younger brother Dave was a marine for six years, fought (in) Desert Sto= rm and he’s worked for me for years…
"I’ve got nothing but respect for these guys and I’m a firm believer in= a strong defence. My perspective is that I made my main character a mari= ne and I viewed him with heroism and courage and intelligence and all the= characteristics I thought would honour them (marines) and I think people= are thinking about it too simplistically." Avatar has also attracted criticism from the Vatican’s newspaper L’Osse= rvatore Romano for promoting the worship of nature and has sparked contro= versy in Italy after landing an unrestricted access rating - allowing kid= s of any age to watch the action movie.

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U.S. authorities have opened an official investigation into death threats= allegedly made against actor JON CRYER, according to a new report.
Cryer is said to have turned to law enforcement last Friday (15Jan10) w= hen a menacing phone call to the set of his sitcom Two and a Half Men lef= t him fearing for his life.
Producers were forced to cancel plans to tape in front of an audience, = and recruited extra security to film scenes without any fans present in t= he studio.
Now authorities at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are lookin= g into the safety threat, reports TMZ.com.
A show is scheduled to be filmed on Friday (22Jan10) without an audienc= e.

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PARIS HILTON is planning to boost her assets with a new range of cleavage= -enhancing underwear.
The socialite has amassed a business empire which includes a shoe colle= ction, fragrances, handbags, hair extensions and clothes.
Now Hilton is adding her to entrepreneurial ventures with a new range o= f lingerie and swimwear, which will launch later this year (10).
And the flat-chested star, who opted out of a breast enhancement operat= ion because she was scared of surgery, is especially pleased with her des= ign for a push-up bra.
She says, "In my lingerie line, I have a bra that I designed for flat-c= hested girls and it makes your boobs look huge! People think it’s fake bo= obs. Everyone’s like, ‘Did you=E2=80=A6?’ I’m like ‘No!’ It makes me look= like a double-D. I’m flat chested compared to most girls in Hollywood." =

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An upcoming fashion designer has criticised KELLY ROWLAND after the singe= r borrowed a collection of expensive clothes and then allegedly failed to= return them.
New York-born Laura Dawson, who recently relocated her clothing busines= s to London, claims she loaned several outfits to the former Destiny=E2=80= =99s Child star four weeks ago but has yet to have any of them back.
Dawson claims all of her calls to Rowland’s representatives have gone u= nanswered and she is appealing to the star to return the key pieces.
She tells Britain’s Evening Standard newspaper, "It is really unfortuna= te that this has happened. I would otherwise have liked to continue to wo= rk with this particular client."

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DAVID and VICTORIA BECKHAM have teamed up to design a range of t-shirts t= o raise money for Britain’s Sport Relief charity.
The couple’s children - Brooklyn, 10, Romeo, seven, and Cruz, four - ev= en had a hand in creating the stylish clothes, which will go on sale in a= id of vulnerable citizens in developing nations.
In a statement, David says, "Victoria and I are excited to be involved = with Sport Relief again this year. Our family had a great time designing = the t-shirt range and we hope it will raise much needed funds for many im= portant causes. The most important thing is that the money raised will ma= ke a genuine difference to people=E2=80=99s lives.=E2=80=9D Other celebrities involved in the charity include Little Britain star D= avid Walliams, who is taking part in a 875-mile (1,408 kilometre) bike ri= de across the U.K. in March (10), from the northern village of John O’ Gr= oats in Scotland to the southern tip of Cornwall, England, known as Land’= s End.
Last year (09) British funnyman Eddie Izzard raised more than $300,000 = (=C2=A3200,000) for Sport Relief for running 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometre= s) across the U.K. in 51 days over the summer (09).

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JOHNNY DEPP is not only the world’s sexiest man - he is also the most sty= lish, according to a new magazine poll.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star was named People magazine’s Sexiest M= an Alive last year (09), scooping the prestigious honour for the second t= ime.
And now Depp can add to his list of titles - he’s topped GQ magazine’s = poll of the most stylish males.
The 46 year old saw off competition from Brad Pitt , British actor Robe= rt Pattinson, rapper Jay-Z and Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick, who all feat= ured on the list of 25 Most Stylish Men in the World, 2010.

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Former BAYWATCH star DAVID HASSELHOFF is heading back to TV following his= departure from AMERICA’S GOT TALENT - he will use a new reality show to = help his teenage daughters launch a music career.
The actor quit his role on the U.S. talent contest’s judging panel earl= ier this month (Jan10), announcing plans to concentrate on other projects= ..
And now the 57 year old has revealed he’s signed up to star in his own = show for U.S. TV network A&E.
The series will document the star’s business ventures, as well as his r= ole as a divorced father caring for two teenagers. The show will also fol= low Hasselhoff’s daughters, Taylor-Ann, 19, and Hayley, 17, as they attem= pt to launch careers in the music industry.
And Hasselhoff hopes the programme will give the girls their big break.
He says in a statement, "It’s the dream of every parent to be able to h= elp their children succeed. I told the girls that I would help them open = the door when they are ready, but they would have to walk through it on t= heir own. This is their time."

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A rep for MISCHA BARTON has dismissed reports the actress behaved "unprof= essionally" while filming a new episode of LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS U= NIT.
The actress, who is playing a prostitute in a guest role on the TV seri= es, allegedly upset cast and crew after repeatedly forgetting her lines w= hile shooting earlier this week (18Jan10).
The former O.C. star is said to have frustrated her co-star Mariska Har= gitay by relying on her for cues to finish their scene.
A source tells the New York Daily News, "People close to her were hopin= g this would get her back on track. But it looks like she’s going to need= yet another chance." But a spokesperson for Barton insists there have been no problems: "Eve= rything’s going swimmingly on set." Barton’s last TV venture, U.S. fashion drama The Beautiful Life, was ca= ncelled after just two episodes.

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R&B star OMARION is set to replace SHANE SPARKS in a U.S. reality TV show= after the choreographer was arrested on suspicion of child molestation l= ast month (Dec09).
The Ice Box singer will take a spot on the judging panel of Randy Jacks= on’s hit MTV series America’s Best Dance Crew when the fifth season begin= s later this month (Jan10).
Omarion will rate aspiring dance crews on the popular competition along= side current judges JC Chasez and Lil Mama.
He says, "I’m so excited to be a judge on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Cr= ew. Dancing and performing is what I do and being a judge on this show wi= ll allow me to give creative feedback to the newest and hottest dancers o= n the rise." Sparks was taken into Los Angeles police custody on a felony warrant an= d charged with eight counts of child molestation.
His attorney, Steve Meister, claims his client is the victim of a "Holl= ywood-style" extortion plot and plans to fight the accusations. (PAW/PR/L=

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British rapper CHIPMUNK was taken to hospital in Jamaica on Wednesday (20= Jan10) after falling ill.
The rapper jetted out to the sunshine island to recover from a string o= f health problems, but his holiday was ruined after he was struck down by= a severe bout of food poisoning.
He says, "It’s the sickest I’ve been in years." The Oopsy Daisy hitmaker has been struggling with health issues in rece= nt weeks - he was forced to scrap a number of gigs in the U.K. in Novembe= r (09) after suffering exhaustion and a month later, he came down with in= fluenza.

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Rap mogul BRYAN ‘BIRDMAN’ WILLIAMS and his brother RONALD ‘SLIM’ WILLIAMS= are venturing away from music - the siblings have launched their own oil= and gas company.
The Cash Money Records co-founders have created Bronald Oil & Gas, a co= mbination of both of their first names, which will be rolled out across A= merica.
The rapper, also known as Baby, and his brother have begun the process = of acquiring leases for areas with "the opportunity for re-entry drilling= as well as new drilling opportunities.=E2=80=9D A statement on the pair’s website reads, "Bronald Oil & Gas, LLC is an = independent oil and gas company focused on the exploration, production an= d development of oil and gas reserves from conventional and unconventiona= l formations. The company is initially focused on exploration and develop= ment properties in Osage County, Oklahoma, as well as in Texas and Louisi= ana in the United States and in Central America." Meanwhile, they insist one of their main concerns is "preserving the en= vironment, promoting worker safety and maximising the potential output of= various oil and gas assets." To celebrate the new venture, Birdman is sporting a new tattoo with the= word ‘Bronald’ inked on his skin, according to BallerStatus.com. (KD/WNW=

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